PETERMAN’S
FIGHTING HOUSEHOLD PESTS
Peterman’s Discovery was one of the best-known household insecticides of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, marketed to combat common pests such as roaches, bed bugs, ants, and other insects. During an era when urbanization and crowded living conditions made pest infestations a widespread problem, Peterman’s products were promoted as a convenient and effective solution for homeowners. The brand became particularly well known through newspaper advertisements, trade cards, and colorful packaging that emphasized its ability to quickly eliminate troublesome household pests. By the early 1900s, Peterman’s Discovery had become a familiar name in American homes and was widely sold through drugstores, grocers, and general stores.
AN EARLY PIONEER
IN HOME PEST CONTROL
Peterman’s Discovery was part of a growing pest-control industry that emerged before the development of modern synthetic insecticides. Its roach and bed bug products reflected a time when consumers relied on powders, liquids, and other treatments to control infestations in homes, hotels, and boarding houses. Advertisements often claimed that the products could kill bed bugs instantly and prevent reinfestation, appealing to households seeking relief from persistent pest problems. Although later generations of insecticides eventually replaced many of these early formulas, Peterman’s remains a notable example of the products that helped shape the early home pest-control market and the public’s growing expectation of cleaner, pest-free living environments.
